MLB Player News

Phillies second baseman Chase Utley and catcher Carlos Ruiz are not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals.

With Utley on the bench, third baseman Cody Asche, who didn't start Saturday's game, slides into the third spot in the lineup. Second baseman Cesar Hernandez and catcher Cameron Rupp will start Sunday and hit in the bottom third of the order.

The Phillies are heavy home underdogs (+180) against the Nationals Sunday.

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura went 1 for 2 from the plate Saturday with a two-run home run in Milwaukee's 6-0 win over the Pirates.

Segura, who is hitting .400 through five games this season, is making small adjustments to help him see the ball better, reports MLB.com.

"I've been working out with my hitting coach. I've just been working hard, trying to find a spot to put me in good position to hit the ball," Segura said. "[I'm trying] to look for the pitch that I can handle. Last year, they kept pitching in and I kept swinging at it. If you keep swinging it, they're going to throw there. Right now, I just walk in and try to see my pitch and attack."

Manager Ron Roenicke just wants Segura to continue to be consistent at the plate.

"I don't know whether he will hit like he did two years ago," Roenicke said, "but he's really swinging the bat well. Anything we get close to a couple of years ago is going to be huge."

Cubs third baseman Mike Olt was hit by a pitch Saturday against the Rockies and was forced to leave the game. Olt, who went 1 for 4 with a home run in the game, received X-rays on his arm, which came back negative, reports the Chicago Tribune.

"I couldn’t feel anything," Olt said. "I think it was from the shock of getting hit. Once I was walking away, I was moving it around so I wasn’t as nervous."

Olt was nervous because of where it hit him.

"It caught me just below my wrist," Olt said with his wrist wrapped in ice. "It hurt, but it’s fine now. They didn’t see anything in the x-ray, so it’s a good thing."

"We're going to approach it as if he's going to be sore [Sunday]," manager Joe Maddon said. "I don't know if he can play tomorrow but it does not appear to initially be a break."

If Olt were to miss anytime, Jonathan Herrera would fill in at third base.

Giants utility infielder Matt Duffy is officially in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Padres and will bat seventh, reports the San Francisco Chronicle.

Duffy, who has also started at second base early in the season, will fill in for the injured Brandon Belt after he was placed on the 15-day DL. It will be his first career start at first after playing the 17 games at second base and shortstop. He is a career .284 hitter with three doubles and nine RBI.

Pedro Alvarez led off the fourth with a home run in the Pirates 6-2 win over the Brewers on Friday. 

Alvarez went two for four, with two runs and two RBI. He has two home runs on the season and is hitting .357. 

Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu batted ninth on Friday, one spot behind starter Tyler Matzek. 

Despite batting behind the pitcher, LeMahieu supplied plenty of offense, going three for four with an RBI and run scored. 

Giants utility infielder Matt Duffy will make his first career start at first base on Saturday. 

"I'd prefer to be a stud at one position," he said, per the San Francisco Chronicle. "But anything you learn that adds value to your name and team, especially in the National League, is a good thing. I think I'm athletic enough to do it. The big question is, does the player want to? I'm willing to learn to play multiple positions. The key is being effective. If you're standing there taking up space, that's different." 

Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon (knee) fielded grounders and did some side-to-side drills Friday, manager Matt Williams said. There is still no timetable for Rendon's activation off the 15-day disabled list.

Braves infielder Phil Gosselin drew his first start of the season at second base Friday against the Mets. He replaced Jace Peterson, who started the first three games at second base for Atlanta.

Peterson, who won the starting second base job during spring training, is batting .200 (2 for 10) through three games. He has no extra-bat hits and no RBI. He does have two runs, two walks and two strikeouts.

Rockies starting second baseman DJ LeMahieu has hit safely in each of the first three games. He had two hits in each of the first two games.

He is batting .385 (5 for 13) with one RBI and one strikeout. He has no extra-base hits, no runs and no walks.